Let’s start from the assumption that school board members should be expected to act with dignity when they engage with students. That was not the case recently in Douglas County, Colorado, and in Buffalo, New York.
In Dougco, as it is known, two school board members have been accused of trying to intimidate a student who wanted to start a protest about high teacher turnover. Parents and educators have started a petition calling for the resignation of Dougco school board President Meghann Silverthorn and VP Judith Reynolds. The board meets again May 10.
According to the petition, these school board members bullied a student named Grace Davis:
“During the Douglas County School Board meeting on April 19, 2016, Grace Davis, a student at Ponderosa High School, gave public comment about a meeting between her, Director Silverthorn, and Director Reynolds regarding a student protest organized by Grace.
“This meeting took place without the knowledge or consent of Grace’s parents. When there is a meeting between a minor and school administration, parental consent is a requirement. Grace describes how she felt small, intimidated and uncomfortable during this meeting. She goes on to describe her family’s attempts to resolve this issue with Silverthorn and Reynolds, with no results. To hear Grace’s public comments, click here.
“The audio of the meeting between Grace and Directors Silverthorn and Reynolds was also released on April 19. It is clear that during this meeting, Directors Reynolds and Silverthorn used their position to intimidate and bully Grace to deter her from proceeding with the planned protest.
Among the statements made by the directors:
·”*** Grace did not fully understand her First Amendment rights and this protest was not necessarily protected speech.
·” *** People with other motivations could hijack the protest.
· “*** Police officers could be hurt and Grace and her family would be financially responsible.
“Additionally, Director Silverthorn outright lied, claiming a police officer had been injured during a Denver student protest by “an angry motorist.” In reality, the officer was struck by a driver who had a seizure at a Black Lives Matter protest. For the full audio of the meeting, click here.”
In Buffalo, one of the wealthiest real estate developers in New York State, Carl Paladino, ran for re-election and was nearly upset by a high school senior, Austin Harig. (When Paladino ran against Cuomo, he became noted for his outrageous statements.) Paladino won his school board seatby only 100 votes out of 3,000 cast. He lashed out at the student, saying that Harig had been suspended from school for tardiness. How did Paladino gain access to Harig’s record. Harig threatened to sue, but the multimillionaire school board member laughed.
Suspended for tardiness? Really? You’re coming late to school so we’ll teach you – we won’t let you come to school. How in the world does that make sense?
AMEN. Makes NO SENSE what so ever.
Student intimidation, students seem to have more savvy than the elected officials.
Diane-the actual protest issue was the high teacher turnover and not opting out of testing. The next Douglas County School Board meeting is set for this Tuesday May 10 and we will be there in support of Grace and her family. #IStandWithGrace
Patti, thanks. My information came from the petition being circulated by parents and teachers.
This has been fixed. My brain these days translates all student protests as opt outs
I was wrong this time
Paladino also refused to debate Harig. On an afternoon talk radio show (similar in content to Fox News), Harig called in when Paladino was a guest and tried to engage in a “discussion”. After a little bantering, Paladino essentially said that the student was not worth his time and the host promised to do a better job screening future callers.
There are more than 3000 teachers who work in Buffalo and between 36,000 and 37,000 students, yet less than 3000 individuals voted. This time the Board Majority (Led by Paladino) was voted out of office. Though they were pro-charter, nothing much happened in that direction. Two Charters wanted to take over some “failing” high schools (ones with stadiums ready for night time play), but when it leaked that these schools planned to ditch the current students and just use the building, the interim superintendent Olgilvie correctly rejected their offer. Paladino and Quinn (his crony that is still on the board – of Sabers fame) called for Olgilvie’s immediate resignation for not following their “advice” on the matter. This competent leader, who came out of retirement to help the district, finished out the year and left saying basically he didn’t need to deal with the name calling and other crap. He had previously been willing to stay another year.
The dynamics of the school board has always been interesting. The previous majority was five black women (referred to as the sisterhood). They ousted another interim superintendent who had dedicated her life to the Buffalo Public Schools (and was well respected and liked by all) in favor of a black woman who was bought out less than two years later when Paladino and his cronies took office (He was pretty vocal about his disdain for her) and replaced by supposed stooge, Olgilvie, who lasted only one year.
The Board was forced to accept our current superintendent, Cash, who was, in effect, assigned by the Education Commissioner, Elia, who had worked with him in Florida. Cash began by denigrating the teachers, a wonderful way to start the school year.
In the meantime, the teachers try their best to work with a high poverty, mainly minority school district full of refugees and immigrants representing over fifty countries. Due to past policies from the Williams era, another Superintendent whose contract was bought out, attendance is abismal, behaviors are “challenging”, and test scores are representative of the minimal effort put in by many of the students. Of course, the teachers are blamed for not making the coursework more exciting. The better students (including those who are white) go to selective schools which weed out the ne’er do wells. The leftover students are in the schools identified as failing. Unrealistic expectations from NYS, such as requiring ESL students who have been here one year to take the same exams as the native born students (many from camps after being displaced from their homes due to war), add to the turmoil.
I really believe that the climate in the BPS could be significantly improved, especially with a pro-student, pro-teacher Board of Education, but that CC, Pearson, Elia, Cuomo and various policies of the Board of Regents, stand in the way of true reform.
Any elected official who uses his/her position of power to intimidate a child should resign out of embarrassment. It is a sad state of affairs when two adults will claim to act on principle in a completely unprincipled manner. They have forfeited their credibility, and now on principle they should forfeit their positions.
Wow, Paladino should be censured. As a BoE member, he should respect that suspension info is private. I live in NYS, but not Buffalo. I’m afraid something like this could happen in my district. Anything I can do?
Paladino recently endorsed Trump. He has that same brash, outspoken style that appeal to some Western New Yorkers. When Paladino ran against Cuomo, it was Paladino who won in this area.
“The multimillionaire school board member laughed”
Some interpretations of the 2nd Amendment offer a solution to arrogant oligarchs like this one.
I wonder if reader Castillo has a point about HIALEAH EDUCATION ACADEMY?
Please report on what is happening in Watkins Glen NY. Superintendent is outright corrupt, and has arrested parent (me) when trying to walk into school board meetings. I have never been disruptive in any way – he is just wanting me silenced. I have a good attorney and this will end in the Superintendents dismissal. http://www.fltimes.com/opinion/write-on-using-court-to-quiet-critics/article_24de79d8-138c-11e6-b0ac-53a1fe035934.html
Go for it, you’ll be taking one for the team. These megalomaniac authority figures, whether principles, superintendents, or members of the school board, should be put in their places to stop them from damaging the integrity/careers of hard working teachers and/or parents who have only the best interests of the children in their hearts.
Update- June 2016 judge issues long scathing judgement and order against superintendent, board and village police department. My lawyer is know filing civil rights case in federal court. Will most likely be settled out of court with large settlement. Important to note – I could care less about any financial award- but hoping for a very large settlement that will be reported on within this community through FOIL- this community needs to wake up to the corruption in this school district.
Icing on the cake – superintendent announced “early retirement”. HaHa. Backdoor deal akin to being fired.